MANUFACTURE OF PAINTS.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15024, 19 March 1919, Page 3 (Supplement)

MANUFACTURE OF PAINTS.

A PROSPECTIVE INDUSTRY

(From. "The Colonist," March 14th.) Giving evidence before the Industries Committee of the House of Representa-tives-this week, Mr H. P. "VYashbourn said: — ■I wish to call your attention to another and although smaller industry one 1 considoi' of local and dominion importance:* ■It lias these points to recommend it* that it would only require a small capital, eculd soon be in operation, and would reduce a certain amount or importation. I refer to the manufacture of iron oxide paints at Para-para. Paints could be made there for £6 per ton as good in every way as those now selling at from £50 to £70 per ton. Vciv the next two years the price is not Jikcly to fall much, but should it fall 75 per cent which would bring them below pre-war prices ia England there rroiild still bo a large margin of profit loft. Not only could the old hematite be made but also a number of various colours, many'of them suitable for house painting, either in their natural colours or mixed with white lead. In 1895 the New Zealand Government while sending a quantity of the iron ore ■■and'limestone from Parapai'a to England to be tested there, also sent several bags each of the two colours locally ■ known as No. 1 and No. 2 hematite. These were jusfe taken from the stock .and not in any way picked samples. Of those, the report- furnished to the New Zealand Government said ■'■"both, paints are well ground, they have been, submitted to "practical tests in comparison with the Torbay paints in a well known Government establishment where Torhay and-other oxide paints have been largely used." After'giving, particulars, of the tests made the report continues: "The New Zealand oxide is a better paint than the Torbay so far as the covering power is concerned, and the difference in the amount of material required in making up the New Zealand oxide as against the Torbay does not "even bring the latter pigment up to the former." The price of the New Zealand •oxide was 8s per cwt. here and the Torbay ground oil in England was 24s 6d per cwt. In reply to the chairman a witness in Wellington said "that if there were works established m Nelson that •could turn out hematite equal to the •old hematite that they used to produce there, the Department would put it on the schedule," but it wants more than I this to be of any assistance. The Gbv-i crnment did use the local hematite but; Tnot nearly,as much as they might havedone. There appeared to be a strong ■tendency to suostitutet the imported article and use the higher priced import-1 ■ed oxide where the better andeheapei 1: local paint could haveljeen used. i We did not put up the paint plant at, Parapara but had we done so should '■■ probably have made some blunders,' as it took a good deal of experimenting .and experience to find out what would; be the 'best appliances for making the j •oxide paint. ... .' ! The previous company after getting and calcining 24 tons of ironstone obtained only 3 tons of badly ground .paint from it, the other 21-tons of the best was away. After a good deal of : trouble wo improved this to the extent: that we obtained 13 tons of well ground'; paint from the 24 tons of. stone. With a suitable plant the other 11 <tons eouM 'have been made into paint without cost. Again with the previous company it; took 48 hours constant firing to dry 15 cwt of paint and this improved so much that we could dry 18 cwt witK 8 hours firing. . The price of hematrte was then £25 per ton. We tried supplying the paint ground in oil in 71b and 14lb tins. This was favourably received by thepublic, but as we had to get the tins made in ChristchuTch, pay freight to Nelson, and then freight to Parapara,: .and had only a small mill for grinding; in, the expense was. too heavy and we I •gave it up. These items will give some! idea of -the unsuitable - nature M the^ plant and the difficulties fl/e had to contend with, still we made the paint and 1 :sdld it at £8 per ton. , ; j Australia took about half of the paint | we made and I have had many enquiries from there asking if any more could "be .obtained. We were also asked to give a! quotation for a 100 ton lot for them, But' being under option at the time we could not quote. A good trade could be worked up with Australia where the good standing ancl ; . fire resisting polities' of the paint make! them very suitable. We tad -many letters in appreciation of these qualities Ir om. there. j A very imprtant point in connection with successfully producing Parapara' oxide paints would'be an establishment \ 'for grinding them in oil and mixing! ready for use. This would greatly ex-j tend the sale as from their great cover.' J ing power, and easy spreading nature' they do not require the skill to apply! that white lead does. The cost of pig-' -ment for painting a building would not -cost a quarter that of lead and they would protect the wood or iron better and "last longer. This would be of great .advantage to farmers and settlers by 'enabling them to paint their buildings,! :gates, etc., etc., at a -small-cost. 'With' 'lumber-always rising in price it is worth . considering the best means of .preserv-i "ing "-buildings. I The superiority for the good standing' and protecting quality of these paints is : from the fact that the ironstone from1! ••which they are made has gone through* ■all possible-chemical changes from air; -and water, so that they are quite inert { when exposed to the weather on a building and do net injuriously effect the oil Jike lead and other chemical made paints.! They form an impervious coating of iron' oxide on wlrch the oxygen of the: -weather has no effect, protects the oil, I ■and prevents the oxygen of the air from J getting access to the wood or iron underneath. Painters object to using the paints in the dry powder form. This is a reason-: aole objection, as besides the time and trouble of mixing them when required, '■■ ihe paint is neither as good nor as easy I to apply us when ground in oil. This ■ ■emphasises the necessity of having them made ,ancl put in as good and convenient: a manner as the imported paint. j I was frequently asked. "How much■ot the Parapara oxide will it take to' paint my house." As they could not ■give the •nuniber of square yards, my reply was "for every hundred weight of lend that it will need 28lb of the oxide ■•will be ample/ The truth of this state•ancnt can be easily demonstrated. The actual cost of material to paint 1000 square yards one good coat was (on my own house) 3. gallons of oil at 14s per' gallon, 425, 2Plb Pnrapara oxide at 20s : per cwt. Os ; total 475." These were both ■war prices otherwise the cost would have: been 16s. lam aware that there would' he.trade prejudice and the importing in- : terost, ami also the supineness of those : having minting done to -ho■ overcome. I A few demonstrations would soon show; the superiority and cheapness of these' paints. i ! To sum up there is. plenty of various i" coloured" oxide of .iron*of good quality,!' which can be made into paints cheaper.1 than the same quality as made in any i : part of the world, and 1 'believe that a"j" good export trade could- b? done with '. them in tl;e dry powder state. But • for consumption'in New Zealand and a'1 good deal-in Australia it inessential that! '' they should be 'ground in oil and be put ( up in a convenient form. ! 'If done in a proper business like wav, h 1 am satisfied that there is a large and ; ; profitable industry to be maaa out of the ; • ■tron oxide paints, that can Remade, from; the various iron ores at Parapara., ■j j I do not consider there is»need of Gov-! i ernment assistance in establishing this?* industry ps it is quite within the means) 3 fir»tf»tful company or firm. If the Gov-j i

eminent would use them on railway stations, trucks, bridges, etc., etc., and "whenever suitable and prevent the substitution of the imported article lor them, I think that is all that they need be asked to do.